Oil pumping apparatus



Feb. 7, 1933. A. RAwsoN OIL PUMPING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet l [Nvz/vroat- Le.s//e AJQ Filed Dec.

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A 7'70RNEK Feb. 7, 1933. L. A. RAW SO N 9 ,558

I OIL PUMPING APPARATUS Filed Dec. is, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 f/v v/vr02: Les/ie .4. Ra wean,

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Patented Feb. I, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LESLIE A. RAWSON, OFLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO EMSCO DERRICK &

EQUIPMENT COMPANY, 01'' LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A. CORPORATION OF GALI-FORNIA OIL PUMPING APPARATUS Application filedvDecember 23, 1931. SerialNo. 582,764.

My invention relates to oil pumping apparatus and is particularlyadapted for use in the operation of oil well pumps such as .are commonlyused in the oil-producing in- 5 dustry for elevating the oil-from thelower end of an oil well to the surface of the-ground.

My invention has for its object to elimilnate certain disadvantages ofthe present oil pumping apparatus, and in the elimination of suchdisadvantages my invention provides means whereby the sucker rod hangermay be adjusted horizontallyon the walking beam in order that the suckerrod hanger may be positioned in vertical alignment with the 15 upper endof the sucker rod.

In order that the features and advantages of my invention may be readilyunderstood I will briefly refer to the'practice in the oilproducingindustry. During the drilling of 0 an oil well it is common practice toperform the drilling operations without the presence of the walkingbeam, due to the fact'that the walking beam would be in the way. Afterthe well has been drilled, it is necessary to install the oil well pumpand the apparatus for operating same. Samson post is set up at vone sideof the derrick, and the walking .beam is pivotally supported on theupperend'of the Samson post. One end of the 0 walking beam extends abovethe upper end of the oil tubing which extends into the well and abovethe sucker rods. The other end of the walking beam is connected tosuitable apparatus whereby the walking beam is' reciprocated. Since theSamson post is generally set up by workmen who are around the well atthe time the pumping apparatus is installed, the Samson post is usuallynot accurately positioned, and the result is that the sucker rod hangerwhich ismounted on the end of the walking beam which extends over theoil tubing and sucker rod is not posi- 'tioned in accurate'verticalalignment with the sucker rods. l

\Vhen the sucker rod hanger is not in norrect vertical alignment with"the sucker rods there is a side thrust-imposed by the sucker rodsagainst the stuffing box at the upper end of the oil tubing throughwhich the sucker rods extend. The result of this is that the stuflingbox is unduly worn and is subject to leakage, and the sucker rod iscontinually flexed where it passes through the stufling box and isliable to breakage. i

My invention provides oil pumping apparatus which includes a supportingmeans for the sucker rod hanger whereby after the walking beam hasbeenpositioned on they .purpose of obtaining alignment may be madewithout requiring the use of separate supporting means during the timethat the adjustment ismade. J

A further object of my invention is to provide a combination of thecharacter referred to in the above paragraph in which the pivot point ofthe sucker rod hanger is positioned above the adjustment means and closeto a horizontal plane which extends through the pivot or fulcrum of thewalking beam. The

advantage of a construction byiwhich this object is accomplished is thatthe pivot point is disposed so that when the walking beam is in ahorizontal pgsition or at the central part of its travel the pivot pointfor the sucker rod hanger is substantially in the same hori zontal planeas the pivot point'or fulcrum of the walking beam. By such an arrangement there is a minimum of deflection of the upper end of the suckerrods during the operation of the pumping a paratus.

It is a further object o my invention to provide in a pumping apparatusof the character outlined heretofore a separate means 7 whereby theposition of the sucker rod hanger may be adjusted. r 1

Other objects and advantages of my invention reside in the details ofconstruction of my invention. It is one of the objects of my inventionto provide pumping apparatus.

of the character mentioned in which the walking beam is provided with apair of depend ing arms between which the sucker rod hanger and theadjustment means therefor are positioned. Another object of theinvention is to provide a combination of the character mentioned in thepreceding sentence in which the depending arms support a horizontalshaft or a support shaft on which the sucker rod hanger isadjustablysupported between the depending armsl Other objects which relate to theinvention in general and which relate to the details of construction ofthe two forms of my invention to be described hereinafter will beemphasized in the following detail description of my invention.

In describing the details of my invention reference will be made to theaccompanying drawings, in which,

Fig.1 is a fragmentary. elevational view showing the completecombination of the preferred form of my invention.

.Fig. 2 is an elevational view taken as in dicated by the arrow 2 ofFig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken as indicated by the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

' Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken as indicated by the line 44 of Fig.2.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view illustrating an alternative form of suckerrod hanger which embodies the broad features of my invention.

' Reference will now be made to the draw-. ings in detail and the formof my invention disclosed in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive will be described,whereafter the form of my invention shown in Fig. 5 will be described.

The numeral 11 represents an oil tubing which, according to standardwell practice,

extends downwardly through the well to a point below the oil levelthereof, at which point there is secured thereto a pump barrel in whicha plunger is reciprocated. Extending upwardly through the oil tubingfrom the pump plunger is a string of sucker rods 12. The sucker rods 12extend through a stuffing box 14 provided at the upper end of the oiltube 11 for the purpose of preventing oil leakages. Connected to the oiltubing immediately below the stuffing box is the customary branch pipe15 through which the pumped oil is conducted to a suitable oilreservoir.

In Fig 1 the numeral 17 represents a Samson post. To economize space Ihave shown only the upper part 5 of the Samson post, but it will be'understood that this Samson post is of usual construction. Mounted onthe upper end of the Samson post is a walking beam pivot or fulcrum 18,which pivotally supports a walking beam 19. The walking beam 19 extendsrightwardly from the Samson post 17 and has an end 21 which ispositioned above the oil tubing 11 and above the sucker rods 12.

Depending from the end 21 of the walking beam 19 is a pair of supportingwalls or depending arms 22 and 23. These depending arms 22 and 23 arespaced apart in order to provide a recess 24, and in the preferred formof my invention these two depending arms are made integral with the end21 of the walking beam 19 by oxyacetylene welding these arms to the end21. It will be noted that these arms 22 and 23 are formed fromplates'which have edge walls which converge downwardly so that the lowerends of these depending arms 22 and 23 are relatively narrow at theirlower ends.

Supported by the depending arms 22 and 23 is a support shaft orhorizontal shaft 26, the ends of which rest in openings 27 provided inthe depending arms 22 and 23. This supporting shaft 26 is locked inplace by means of a nut28 which is screwed onto the end of thesupporting shaft 26 and which pulls a shoulder 29 of the supportingshaft 26 against the inner face of the depending arm 23. The function ofthis supporting shaft 26 is to support a hanger block 31 whichconstitutes a part of the sucker rod hanger of my invention. It will benoted that this supporting shaft not only occupies a substantiallyhorizontal position when the walking beam is in a horizontal position,as disclosed in the drawings, but is also positioned so that its axisextends inwardly towards the fulcrum 18 of the walking beam 19.

The hanger box or hanger block 31 has a cylindrical opening 32 throughwhich the.

ing 32 are of uniform diameter, the hanger block 31 may be movedlaterally in the recess 24 provided between the depending arms 22 and23. As disclosed best in Fig. 3, the hanger block 31 supports a bearing34 which is mounted above the supporting shaft 26 and which extendshorizontally at right angles thereto- The hanger block 31 provides anoil chamber 35 into which a lubricant is introduced througha suitablepipe 36. The bearing 34 extends through this oil chamber 35 and hasopenings 37 provided therein through which oil in the oil chamber 35 mayreach the inner bearing surface of the hearing 34. Pivotally supportedby the bearing 34 is a pivot shaft 38 which extends in a horizontalplane and at right angles to the supporting shaft 26. This pivot shaft38 is preferably positioned so that it is in horizontal alignment withthe fulcrum 18 when the walking beam is in a horizontal position, asshown in Fig. 1. The ends of the pivot shaft 38 project outwardly fromthe bearing 34, and the hanger block 31 and the" ends thereof arereceived in the bosses 39 provided at the upper ends of arms 40 of ayoke 41. This yoke 41 which is'open at its upper end convenientlysurrounds the hanger block 31 and the other parts of the invention. Theyoke 41 and the pivot shaft 38 are connected together by suitable boltconnection 43 shown clearly in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

The lower part of the yoke 41 is provided with a clevis 44 to which theupper end of a supporting bar 45 is connected. The lower end of thesupporting bar 45 is connected to an equalizing supporting means 46which is connected at it slower end to the sucker rods 12. Theconstruction which joins the yoke 41 and the sucker rods 12 may be ofany special or conventional design.

As emphasized in the introductory part of this specification it isdesirable to have the sucker rod hanger in vertical alignment with thesucker rods. My invention provides means whereby the pivot shaft 38 maybe laterally adjusted in order that it may be in vertical alignment withthe sucker rods 12. In the preferred form of my invention which is nowbeing described, ll provide an adjustment means which is embodied in thefollowng construction.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4 it will be noted that the hanger block 31extends downwardly beyond the supporting shaft 26 in the form of a pairof depending lugs 48 having aligned openings 49. lfhe lower ends of thedepending arms 22 and 23 have openings 50 which are aligned with theopenings 49. Extended through these openings 49 and 50 is a bolt 51which serves the purpose of supporting the shims 52 which are placedbetween the depending arms 22 and 23 and side walls 54 of the hangerblock 31. These shims 52 are used to fill the horizontal space betweenthe side walls 54 of the hanger block 31 and the inner walls of thedepending arms 22 and 23. By placing the proper number of shims 52 oneither side of the hanger block 31 the hanger block 31 may be properlypositioned on the supporting shaft 26. When the shims 52 are properlypositioned the bolt 51 is than tightened in order that the shims will beheld in place and will not be displaced. It will, therefore, be seenthat by removing the shims 52 on the right of the hanger block 31 itwould be possible to move the hanger block 31 in a rightward directionon the supporting shaft 26. This would provide a space at the left ofthe hanger block and in order to fill this space the shims removed fromthe right of the hanger block would be placed to the left of the hangerblock, after which operation the bolt might be tightened and the hangerblock 31 would be secured in its ad justed position.

t is believed that from the foregoing description the objectsof myinvention will be seen to be clearly accomplished by the constructionjust described. It is further believed that it will be quite obviousthat the advantages attributed to my invention are C5 present in theconstruction just described.

It is particulahly pointed out that not only is the hanger block 31susceptible of adjustment in order that the pivot shaft 38 may bevertically aligned with the sucker rods 12, but this adjustment may bemade during the time that the sucker rods 12 are supported by the end 21of the walking beam 19. This is a very valuable feature of my invention.

In the first form of my invention ust described. the adjustment meansfor the hanger block is made separate from the supporting shaft 26.This, however, is not essential, as will be obvious from an inspectionof Fig. 5, inwhich an alternative form of my invention is disclosed. InFig. 5, the supporting shaft 26 is provided with threads 55 and thecylindrical opening 32 of the hanger block 31 is provided with athreaded nut 56'. This threaded nut 56 may be a separate part or it maybe in the form of threads cut integral with the walls of the hangerblock 31 which surround the cylindrical opening 32. The right end of thesupporting shaft 26 is provided with a polygonal head57, whereby thesupporting shaft 26 may be rotated by the application of a suitablewrench. It will be seen that by rotating the supporting shaft 26 it ispossible to cause the hanger block 31 to travel in one direction or theother on the supporting shaft 26, thus repositioning the pivot shaft 38with respect to the sucker rods 12. It will, therefore be seen that inthis second form of my invention the separate adjust ment means iseliminated and the adjustment means is incorporated in the support meansof the invention.

The two forms of my invention it is be lieved are sufficient toillustrate that my invention is not limited to any one design or any twodesigns such as are disclosed and shown in the drawings of thisapplication. My invention, to the contrary, is not limited to thestructural forms disclosed and described herein but may be embodied invarious other forms which embody the principles or important parts of myinvention. 1 therefore desire that my invention be con strued inaccordance with the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention 1. In an apparatus for pumping oil from an oilwell, the combination of: an oil tubing extended into a well; a suckerrod extending from said oil tubing; a Walking beam pivotally supportedwith one end above said oil tubing; a horizontal supporting shaftsupported by said end of said walking beam; a sucker rod hangersupported by said supporting shaft and supporting said sucker rod; andmeans for adjusting said sucker rod hanger on said supporting shaft.

2; In an apparatus for pumping oil from an oil well, the combination-of:an oil tubing extended-into a well; a sucker rod-extending from saidoil-tubing; awalking beam pivottubing;

ally supported with one end above said oil a supporting shaft supportedby said end of said walking beam; a sucker rod hanger supported by saidsupportin shaft and supporting said sucker rod; an means separate fromsaid supporting shaft for adjusting said sucker rod hanger on saidsupporting shaft.

3. In an apparatus for pumping oil from an oil well, the combination of:an oil tubing extended into a well; a sucker rod extending from said oiltubing; a walking beam pivotally supported with one end above said 011tubing; a supporting shaft supported by said end of said walking beam ahanger block supported by said supporting shaft;

a pivot shaft supported by said hanger block for supporting said suckerrod; and means for ad usting said hanger block on said supporting shaft.

4. In an apparatus for pumping oil from an oil well, the combination of:an oil tubing extended into a well; a sucker rod extending from said oiltubing; a walking beam pivotally supported with one end above said oiltubing; a supporting shaft supported by said end of said walking beam; ahanger .block supported by said supporting shaft; a

pivot shaft supported by said hanger block above said supporting shaftfor sup orting said sucker rod; and means for a ]usting said hangerblock on said supporting shaft.

5. In an apparatus for pumping 011 from an oil well, the combination of:an oil tubing extended into a well; a sucker rod extending from said oiltubing; a walking beam pivotally supported with one end above said oiltubing; a supporting shaft supported by said end of said walking beam; ahanger block supported by said supporting shaft; a pivot shaft supportedby said hanger block for supporting said sucker rod; andmeans separatefrom said supporting shaft for engaging said hanger block and foradjusting said hanger block on said supporting shaft. v

6. In an apparatus for pumping oil from an oil well, the combination of:an oil tubing extended into a well; a sucker rod extendin from said oiltubing; awalking beam pivota y supported with one end above said oiltubin a air of spaced arms. depending from sai en of said walking beam;a suppivotally supported with one end above said oil tubing; a pair ofspaced arms depending from said end of said walking beam; a supportingshaft supported by said pair of arms;

7 a hanger block supported by said supporting shaft; a pivot shaftsupported by said hanger block for supporting said sucker rod; and meanscooperating between said hanger block and at least one of said dependingarms for adjusting said hanger block on said supporting shaft, saidmeans including shims adapted to be placed between said hanger block andoneof said depending arms.

8. In an apparatus for pumping oil from an oil well the combination of:an oil tubing extended into a well; a sucker rod extended from said oiltubing; a walking beam pivotally supported with one end above said oiltubing; a threaded supporting shaft rotatably supported by said end ofsaid walking beam; a hanger block supported by said threaded supportingshaft, and having a threaded opening through which said threadedsupporting shaft extends; pivot means u carried by said hanger block forsupporting said sucker rod; and means for rotating said threadedsupport? 1g shaft for adjusting said hanger block on said threadedsupporting shaft.

9. In an apparatus for pumping oil from an oil well, the combination of:an oil tubing extended into a well; a sucker rod extending from said oiltubing; a walking beam pivotally supported with one end above said oiltubing; a supporting shaft rotatably supported by said end of saidwalking beam; :1

han er block supported by said supporting sha a pivot shaft supported bysaid hanger block for supporting said sucker rod; and means operableupon a rotation of said supporting shaft for adjusting said hanger blockon said supporting shaft.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles,Cal1forn1a, th1s 17 day of December, 1931.

' LESLIE A. RAWSON.

porting shaft supported by said pair of arms a hanger block supported bysaid supporting shaft; a pivot shaft supported by said hanger block forsupporting said sucker rod;

and means cooperating between said hanger block and at least one of saiddepending arms .tendin g from said oil tubing; a walln'ng beam lli

